Hyderabad's Shia community ready for 10th Muharram procession

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Hyderabad's Shia community ready for 10th Muharram procession. Till now, 57 processions have been taken out from Bibi Ka Alawe, the holy platform for Hyderabadi Shias.

With about 200,000 Shias, Hyderabad is home to the second-largest Shia community in India, after Lucknow.

The majalis, which began with Muharram (the first month of Islamic calendar), reach a crescendo on 10th Muharram, the day when Imam Hussain Ibn Ali, grandson of prophet Mohammed, and his followers were martyred in 61 Hijri or 680 CE at Karbala, in present-day Iraq.

Moulana Sabbar Raza, speaking to ANI said, "In the remembrance of 72 members who sacrificed their lives for saving humanity including Imam Hussain, who was grandson of Prophet Mohammed, we all mourn and participate in the sick procession and express our feelings."

Rajaf Ali Shaukat, member of Bibi ka Alawe Ashurkhana, said, "Since 400 ago from the Qutub Shah period, all the Muslims and Hindus participate in Muharram and tomorrow the main procession starts from Bibi ka Alawe to reach Chanderghat. It takes six hours for the procession to reach its destination. The maatam (mourning) will be done with knifes and blood will be sacrificed."

He further added that there are around 11000 Ashurkhanas in Telangana and many are maintained by Hindus.

Ashurkhanas are community spaces where Shia Muslims gather for mourning during Muharram.

Some of the Hindus who visited Bibi Ka Alawe speaking to ANI said, "Every year we visit this Ashurkhana with our family and we feel good after visiting and we also participate in the Muharram."

M. Mahender Reddy, Commissioner Hyderabad speaking to ANI said, "Druing the Muharram, 10th day Elephant procession is the important one. Lakhs of people participate in this procession. To ensure their safety and security, we have taken all adequate precautions including deployment of 5,000 police personals simultaneously today and tomorrow."

On 10th Muharram, a massive and historic 'Bibi ka alam' procession is taken out with the alam on an elephant. The procession passes through parts of the old city, with thousands of people, irrespective of religion and caste, standing along the roads to pay their respects.

Reddy also said that the security arrangements have also been put in place in the view of Dussehra.

"Dussehra festivities are taking place in the city, the temples in Hyderabad are witnessing lake of people. In addition, Durga idol processions and immersion is also going on. Taking the complexity in mind, around 20,000 CCTV cameras are going to monitor all events. We expect all the events pass off peacefully," Reddy said.